[AT] OT- Computer help please

Tue Feb 18 04:20:19 PST 2020

THANKS!  Will check that out!

SO

On Tue, Feb 18, 2020 at 6:58 AM cgs <oxygenfarm at gmail.com> wrote:

> Linux Mint has an accessory named 'USB Image Writer' which will put the
> downloaded image of your new operating system onto your USB. A good
> instruction for Mint is at *https://www.linuxmint.com/documentation/user-guide/Cinnamon/english_18.0.pdf
> <https://www.linuxmint.com/documentation/user-guide/Cinnamon/english_18.0.pdf>*
> I use its Mate version whose latest is 19.3 on older computers.
>
> On 2/18/20 5:13 AM, Stephen Offiler wrote:
>
> Yes, I have one SATA connector on the old laptop.  I am hearing several
> votes in favor of Mint/Mate.  Since I don't have a ton of free time, hoping
> maybe someone can provide a decent overview of the process.  I'd like to
> ignore the hard drive on the laptop and try to boot off a thumb drive as
> we've been discussing.  Basically treat the laptop as if it were already
> dead.  I have a fully modern, fully functional desktop workstation running
> Win 10 for downloads and manipulations of the thumb drive.  So what are the
> basic steps?  Download to the workstation and then send files over to the
> thumb, or download straight to the thumb?  In either case, how do I make
> the thumb bootable?
>
> Thanks in advance...
> SO
>
> On Mon, Feb 17, 2020 at 9:53 AM cgs <oxygenfarm at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Most versions of Linux are free and legal to download; some charge for a
>> prepared thumb drive and/or a phone help service.
>> I have several computers that age which will run the lighter Linux
>> versions. A new solid state drive (120 GB) can be found online or at
>> MicroCenter for $25 (be sure your old iron has SATA connectors!)
>>
>> On 2/17/20 5:20 AM, Stephen Offiler wrote:
>>
>> Hi Phil:
>>
>> I've got a Dell from about 2009 or so, perhaps a 3000-series (?), running
>> XP.  At the time it was a workstation-class laptop, capable of running 3D
>> CAD software.  I don't use it much anymore, but it definitely comes in
>> handy sometimes.  Nothing important is stored on it.  Hard drive has given
>> me a few scares over the last several years, but it comes back every time
>> (on it's own; I have not done anything heroic).  This bootable thumb drive
>> thing is intriguing because you don't need any hard drive at all with it.
>>  In your scenario, with the hidden partition, you still need a functional
>> hard drive.  Plus, there's been enough discussion of Linux here on ATIS
>> (and elsewhere) that I'm curious.
>>
>> SO
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Feb 17, 2020 at 5:08 AM Phil Auten <pga2 at basicisp.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi, Stephen,
>>>
>>> I don't remember what brand of PC you have, but several manufacturers
>>> provide a "hidden partition" on the hard drive that can be used to restore
>>> the PC back to factory settings. On both of my Acer laptops the <Alt-F10>
>>> keys are pressed together during boot. This enables the restore function.
>>> That would, however, wipe out your files. But if there is no other
>>> alternative it would be worth a try. The laptop I am using to type this
>>> suffered a hard drive crash a couple of years ago. The hard drive was no
>>> longer recognized. Using the Acer part number, I was able to find the exact
>>> same hard drive on eBay. I had to completely rebuild my setup, but still
>>> much less expensive than a new laptop.
>>>
>>> If that $35 thumb drive is bootable, that would still be a good option
>>> for me.
>>>
>>> My 2¢
>>>
>>> Phil in TX
>>>
>>> On 2/16/2020 5:44 AM, Stephen Offiler wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi farmer:  When you say no reason to buy anything, I assume you refer
>>> to that $35 thumb drive device I mentioned.  As I understand it, the thumb
>>> drive is bootable, circumventing the hard drive and whatever OS is on the
>>> machine.  The sales pitch is that it will take a machine that's bricked and
>>> bring it back to life.  Do you have a way to accomplish that for free?
>>>
>>> SO
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Feb 15, 2020 at 10:39 PM Indiana Robinson <
>>> robinson46176 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> No reason to buy anything, Most distributions of Linux will read
>>>> Windows files. You can copy, paste move etc. and you can download anything
>>>> for free. I don't putter with old stuff as much as I used to but I've used
>>>> Knoppix for such things for many years. I don't know if Windows 10 can read
>>>> Linux files yet or not but I once read that it was soon to be an option. If
>>>> you install Linux as a dual boot with Windows you can just access your
>>>> Windows files without having to reboot back into Windows to find them or
>>>> work with them.
>>>> Half of the Linux learning curve is terminology... If you have become
>>>> comfortable using Android you are half way there. Android is just a mobile
>>>> (and tablet) version of Linux. Android is built on and running the Linux
>>>> Kernel but your desktop box won't run Android.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> .
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Feb 15, 2020 at 9:33 AM cgs <oxygenfarm at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Look at *http://www.linuxandubuntu.com/home/5-best-data-recovery-tools-for-linux-to-recover-data-or-deleted-partitions
>>>>> <http://www.linuxandubuntu.com/home/5-best-data-recovery-tools-for-linux-to-recover-data-or-deleted-partitions>*
>>>>>
>>>>> On 2/15/20 7:12 AM, Stephen Offiler wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Good to hear it's all set.  I've been seeing ad's for a device called
>>>>> "XtraPC" which, it turns out, is some flavor of Linux burned onto a thumb
>>>>> drive for something like $35.  You can bring back most troublesome old
>>>>> machines from the grave (assuming the problem is hard drive/boot software,
>>>>> not some hardware failure of course).  What I do not know is whether you
>>>>> can access your Windows files under Linux.  Curious about that.
>>>>>
>>>>> SO
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Charlie
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> AT at lists.antique-tractor.com
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>> Francis Robinson
>>>> aka "farmer"
>>>> Central Indiana USA
>>>> robinson46176 at gmail.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
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>>
>> --
>> Charlie
>>
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> --
> Charlie
>
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